Askins annex ready for new school year

Ralph Askins School teachers (from left) Heather Bradley, Diane Wilson and Debbie Anderton pause for a photo while moving in to the school’s new annex which will open this fall.

Ralph Askins School will unveil its new eight-classroom annex building when children return to school next month.

Construction on the facility, which also includes a multi-purpose mini gymnasium, conference room and office space, was completed earlier this month. Teachers began moving into the new annex last week.

“The teachers are enthused about getting everything set up in this new state-of-the-art facility,” said Fran Rawleigh, Askins School principal. “Their excitement is contagious. We’ve had so much effort put in by all the teachers who have gone above and beyond to make this a top-notch facility.

“Parents will be very pleased to see what this facility has to offer and what the teachers have to offer instructionally,” she added.

Vice Principal Fran Hamilton will be the administrative representative in the new annex.

The annex isn’t the only new construction on the campus. Children will return to school to an expanded cafeteria which will seat an additional 100 folks. An existing restroom in the school has also been given a facelift over the summer, and the playground is being spruced up, as well.

“I can’t say enough about the custodial staff,” Rawleigh said. “They’ve gone above the call of duty to make these facilities sparkle.”

With the opening of the new annex, the system’s FAST (Fayetteville After School Time) program will move into the facility starting this school year.

“There will be changes in the traffic pattern, and those will be explained at our open house and parent orientation,” the principal said.

Another change coming this fall is the system making the FAST morning program available for Pre-K students, something that hasn’t been offered in the past, Rawleigh noted. Parents interested in the program should call the FAST office at 433-0513.

Parents are encouraged to attend the upcoming open house and orientation nights planned for each grade level. The schedule is as follows:

The city school system’s building program, designed to relieve overcrowding, got underway last school year. Construction at Fayetteville Middle School, which includes additional classrooms and a cafeteria, is ongoing and should be completed by mid-September.